Georgia Power HQ site sale: The rest of the story

North Point Hospitality pulled its punches when it came to redevelopment plans for the former Georgia Power headquarters property on River Street’s east end.

Here’s why: Another buyer was waiting in the wings, and North Point had to finalize the sale prior to Jan. 31 or lose out on the project.

The sale of the site to North Point closed Tuesday, six days after the developer’s architect, Pat Shay, presented updated plans for the project to the Savannah Historic Board of Review. North Point essentially acquiesced to many of the board’s concerns with the original plans, which included eight buildings, a seven-story hotel on the waterfront and showed little concern for preserving river views.

The changes bordered on shocking. Just a month earlier, North Point gave every indication it was intent on pushing through its original designs. The group brought its attorney and a court reporter to the board meeting.

The lawyer, Harold Yellin, stood before the board and reminded them changes made last year to the historic district height map – changes the board opposed -- allowed for the tall waterfront hotel.

The reason for the court reporter’s presence, meanwhile, went unsaid. But given that a Superior Court judge is the only person who can overrule the historic board on design issues, it was assumed the court reporter was there to chronicle the proceedings just in case North Point needed to eventually go to court.

The presence of a back-up buyer – an unidentifiedAtlantadeveloper who had lined up legendary hotel architect John Portman to work on the project – led to North Point taking the softer line. The updated plans involve two fewer buildings, a large riverfront plaza and changes to the waterfront hotel that moves the tower away from the river’s edge.

The Historic Review Board approved the updated plans. North Point and Shay still need several more approvals from the board before the project can go forward, but the site plan is now locked in.

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Don't know that there's anything crooked about what's described in the blog. And in my dealings with Shay, Triplett and the chamber, I've never gotten the impression that they are underhanded. Can they be shrewd? Yes, but that's not the same thing as crooked.

How have I offended you Yulb? And please point out the "personal vindictive opinions." If my saying I don't find Shay, Triplett, etc. crooked is a "personal vindictive opinion", I 'd like to know what doesn't qualify as personal and vindictive. And for future reference, Susan Catron and Gale Baldwin are my bosses, not Tom Barton.